Dear Friends,

Janice and I send you greetings from Jakarta. The past few weeks have been a busy time in the ministry here. The challenge of dealing with tsunami aid while trying to balance on going ministries has been difficult. However, the challenge brought many new opportunities to minister in new areas. As always, your prayers have been felt and appreciated as we have sought to meet these new opportunities.

For the most part the churches here in Jakarta have done well over the past few weeks. However, we would ask you to especially remember Pastor Hadir and the folks at the Sunter Jaya church, and Pastor Yusuf and his folks at the Cibubur church. Pastor Hadir, his wife Vera and their little fellow, Steven, just need your special prayers. Also, pray for Pastor Yusuf and the folks at the Cibubur church as they will be building a building. The whole project is fraught with problems, both internally and externally. A huge mosque has been built right behind the church's present meeting place.

While speaking of problems, two of our churches here in Jakarta have been asked to close as they are disturbing the local community. Amazing how one small Independent Baptist church can disturb a whole community! Pray for these works especially, but remember all our churches here in Indonesia that are daily facing the wrath of people who view the gospel of Christ as their greatest enemy.

The Bible school started a new semester the first of February. We have many new students. Several of the students have fallen ill this semester with some of them requiring hospitalization. Most of the students seem to be healthy now, but we would ask you to remember them in prayer. I am teaching several classes, but I have fallen behind in my classes as I have missed several class periods dealing with the tsunami aid. Lord willing, I will get caught up over the next few weeks.

In my last letter, I explained the ways that we would use the tsunami aid that was flowing our way. Truthfully, I hoped that I would be able to distribute the aid without upsetting my normal schedule. However, it quickly became clear that I was going to have to accept a much more active role in dealing with the tsunami aid. Several factors led me to take a more active role. First of all, Brother Jan Milton of Operation Renewed Hope, decided he wanted Independent Baptists involved in the placement of several water filtration units his organization sent to aid the tsunami victims. Secondly, you folks who generously gave to help the tsunami victims continued to write me concerning your desire that your aid would have spiritual results. Finally, Dr. Jim Daley, my long time fellow worker, had also received large amounts of tsunami aid. In the end Brother Daley and I decided that we would use the majority of our aid to help the tsunami victims on the island of Nias. This was a natural choice for us as Nias island had suffered damage from the tsunami, and we had young churches on the island.

During February and March, I have spent over 3 weeks on the island of Nias. Brother Daley and I have contributed tsunami aid to provide water for the main hospital in Gunung Sitoli, and help tsunami victims in the Teluk Dalam area. The main hospital in Gunung Sitoli is a 110 bed hospital which rarely had water. We were able to dig two wells, provide two holding tanks and build a platform for a water filtration unit. Lord willing the water filtration unit (provided by Operation Renewed Hope) will be installed next month. In the Teluk Dalam area we installed a water filtration unit at Sorake Beach. This was no easy job, but it has finally become a reality. Also, we rebuilt a bridge destroyed by the tsunami for the folks in the Pasir Putih area and provided them with financial aid to repair or rebuild their homes that had been destroyed by the tsunami. There are several projects that Brother Daley and I continue to work with in the Teluk Dalam area relating to providing water for several communities.

However, most of my time in Nias has been spent working with our Bible school students that are starting works on Nias island. In Gunung Sitoli, I have worked with Brother Yulianus Gulo in starting a new work. On my last trip to Nias, Brother Larry Quinlan, another of my fellow workers here in Jakarta, accompanied me; and when he gave an invitation to the folks in Brother Yuliuanus's new work, over 10 adults responded by receiving Christ! Through my work at the hospital, I have had repeated opportunities to witness and I have been able to make several new contacts. One Saturday, I had the opportunity to preach to a group of the Christians that had gathered for a service at the hospital.

In the Teluk Dalam area we have worked with Pastor Formil, Pastor Filinus, Pastor Saro and Pastor Fama., all former students from our Bible school in Jakarta. During our time in Nias over 50 adults have professed Christ in the Teluk Dalam area. One of the more immediate results is the starting of a new work in the Pasir Putih area of Teluk Dalam.

The tsunami money is fading, I don't think there will be much more come my way. Most of the folks we helped with the actual aid money feel like we just didn't do enough. When I recently visited the Pasir Putih area in Teluk Dalam where a good portion of the aid was distributed, no one thanked me for the aid, they all complained that we needed to give more! I just laughed, as I've read God's word, and I know man's heart won't be changed by man's efforts. However, the more important point is that there is now a Sunday school in Pasir Putih; an infant church is in the works; the gospel is being preached; hearts are being changed and they will be thankful. Folks, it would not have happened if you hadn't forced me to leave my comfort zone in Jakarta and venture out to Nias and do something with all the tsunami money!

Janice is fine. She had the opportunity to attend a ladies seminar in Bangkok this last month. She had wonderful time with many of the other missionary wives from Southeast Asia.

For your faithful prayers and financial support, we are truly thankful.

In Christ,